Everything athletic for Stoystown woman

Jackie Bowser spent all but six days of the summer on local ball fields playing, coaching or officiating sporting events.

“I am heavy into sports,” said the longtime athlete from Stoystown.

As a player, Bowser said, she likes the challenge of competing. As a coach, the former Shade-Central City High School athlete admits she pushes her young pupils hard so they are determined to succeed.

And officiating is just another way for the sports fanatic to surround herself with the competitive energy of a ball game.

But her efforts for local athletics reach further than coach, player and official. If it wasn’t for Bowser, the local games might not be played at all.

Thanks to the efforts of Bowser and other volunteers, community ball fields in Stoystown and Hooversville are being given a face-lift. New dugouts, concession stands and playgrounds are transforming dilapidated community parks into havens for local youth.

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“A lot of work needed done and there wasn’t a lot of people to do it,” said Bowser, who started her restoration efforts with Stoystown and Hooversville community parks in 2007.

While the parks have been greatly improved, Bowser is far from finished. She has a clear vision for what she wants the parks to be.

“We are going to put a walking track around the field and we are going to build a pavilion,” she said while standing on a hill overlooking the ball field at Stoystown park. Two dugouts, a staircase, a concession stand and new playground equipment have already been installed.

Bowser uses grant money, community donations and paid advertising on the field to fund the projects. She said the Stoystown park renovations cost around $40,000.

“I just wanted the kids to have a nice place to go and play,” said Bowser, whose daytime job at Cummings Trophies & Engraving in Geistown produces the rewards of strong competitive effort.

But Bowser’s community involvement is not entirely centered around her athletic passion. Her love for sports has also been a bridge to help local students find academic success.

Bowser is working with North Star High School administrators to have select seniors renovate parts of the parks for their graduation projects. Two dugouts and a staircase that are at Stoystown park were made by North Star seniors.

And Bowser said she actively oversees that the projects are done with care.

“It gets work done we don’t have the manpower to do and gives them a senior project they have to do,” she said.

She said all seven students who have worked on a senior project with her have received a B grade or better.

With all of those endeavors, it is not hard to see how Bowser spent all but six days of her summer on a ball field.

And while the winter may slow her outdoor activities, the athlete inside of her will not be stopped.

“I play volleyball in the winter,” she said. “That’s me, it (sports) is all I do.”